Liberal Senator Allegedly Bilked Nuns

[August1991]

Sen. Mobina Jaffer, a Liberal appointment to Canada’s upper chamber, must undergo a conduct review, the Law Society of B.C. announced Tuesday.

The Order of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate sued Jaffer, her son Azool Jaffer-Jeraj and their firm, accusing them of overbilling the order for legal work done from 2000 to 2004. The lawsuit was settled before it went to trial.

Vancouver Sun

Liberal Senator Mobina Jaffer is being investigated by the B.C. Law Society over allegations she bilked a religious order she represented as a lawyer.

The organization announced yesterday that Jaffer will undergo a conduct review following a lengthy investigation into claims of overbilling by a Roman Catholic missionary order.

Jaffer's son, lawyer Azool Jaffer-Jeraj, will also face the review committee, which will start their work this fall.

The Jaffers were fired by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate after the order was billed $5.1 million for work between 2000 and 2004 while they defended the order against dozens of claims of abuse in residential schools.

Toronto Star

I think that what I find most appalling in this case is that a religious order, under criminal investigation, hired a Liberal senator (and her son) for their legal defence. This is tantamount to an extortion racket. (I know senators have other jobs but shouldn't they be more circumspect about the moonlighting?)

To add insult to injury, the Senator (and her son) then overbill their clients! They settle out of court (with a confidentiality clause) and finally, the Law Society decides to investigate.

Keep in mind that all of this was happening while the sponsorship payoffs were ongoing in Quebec.

Chretien appointed Jaffer to the Senate in 2001. She won't have to retire until 2024.

Edited September 17, 2009 by August1991

[myata]

is being investigated

Is that a somewhat misleading title, or the author of the OP happens to posess a very rare ability to read the future?

[August1991]

Is that a somewhat misleading title, or the author of the OP happens to posess a very rare ability to read the future?

They may have settled out of court but frankly, between me and you, who would you rather believe? A car full of Liberal Senators or a car full of nuns.

The BC Law society is investigating. But Myata, I get your point and I'll edit the thread title.

-----

Between a spouse's drunk-driving charge (admittedly with cocaine thrown in, ex-MP too) and this Liberal Senator, I know which story carries more weight.

To understand my point, imagine if Jaffer were married to a Conservative Senator, appointed by Harper.

[jdobbin]

Between a spouse's drunk-driving charge (admittedly with cocaine thrown in, ex-MP too) and this Liberal Senator, I know which story carries more weight.

And yet you posted this story as a counterpoint? And this was to reflect on all Liberals?

Edited September 17, 2009 by jdobbin

[August1991]

And yet you posted this story as a counterpoint? And this was to reflect on all Liberals?

Yes, I posted it as a counterpoint. And yes, I think it reflects on federal Liberals - moreso than a drunk-driving charge.

Don't get me wrong. I deplore drunk driving and frankly, given what we know of its dangers, I think we should charge drunk drivers with stupidity.

-------

But Dobbin, this case is astounding. The political winds, political correctness, put a religious order under criminal investigation, facing civil suits, at teh federal level. In such circumstances, teh order hired a Liberal Senator, a lawyer, for its defence.

And then the lawyer overcharged!

Sadly, the BC Law Society is probably only investigating the overcharging.

[jdobbin]

Yes, I posted it as a counterpoint. And yes, I think it reflects on federal Liberals - moreso than a drunk-driving charge.

Don't get me wrong. I deplore drunk driving and frankly, given what we know of its dangers, I think we should charge drunk drivers with stupidity.

It is more than stupidity, it is criminal.

However, your posting of this as a connection to Liberals in general is dropping into the gutter. It says as much about you than anything else.

Sadly, the BC Law Society is probably only investigating the overcharging.

You can be disbarred for overcharging.

[Smallc]

This thread = strange.

Edited September 18, 2009 by Smallc

[August1991]

However, your posting of this as a connection to Liberals in general is dropping into the gutter. It says as much about you than anything else.

Gutter?

I didn't know anything about this case until I saw the Toronto Star article. But when I saw it, I wondered why a Catholic religious order hired a lawyer, named Liberal senator in 2001, for its defence. Well, if I were under such attack, I might hire such a lawyer too.

That's tantamount to an extortion racket.

You can be disbarred for overcharging.

True. And sadly, that may be the BC Law Society's only concern too.

This thread = strange.

Why do you find it strange? Edited September 18, 2009 by August1991

[jdobbin]

Gutter?

Yes, gutter. Because you seek to tar all Liberals with the brush.

I didn't know anything about this case until I saw the Toronto Star article. But when I saw it, I wondered why a Catholic religious order hired a lawyer, named Liberal senator in 2001, for its defence. Well, if I were under such attack, I might hire such a lawyer too.

That's tantamount to an extortion racket.

It sounds like you still don't know anything about the case.

It is a dispute between two parties. That was settled.

Now, the issue is if the lawyer acted within professional standards.

True. And sadly, that may be the BC Law Society's only concern too.

The professional actions of their members should be their only concern. If they find criminal behaviour along the way, they pass it on to the police.

However, within their professional standards, the Law Society can disbar a member for violating their code of conduct.

[August1991]

Yes, gutter. Because you seek to tar all Liberals with the brush.

On this score, you are right, Dobbin.

I tend to think that Liberal PMs name friends to senior positions to collect money from private citizens so that the friends return the money to the Liberals. It's been done, and it's a racket.

In this case, it appears that a religious order sought protection through a Liberal senator. As Russians would say, a Liberal Senator is a good roof (krysha).

----

OTOH, I'm not suggesting (unlike others) that all Liberals are drunk drivers:

Yvon Duhaime, the former owner of the hotel at the centre of the Shawinigate scandal, appeared in a Shawinigan, Que., courtroom Tuesday afternoon to face drunk driving charges.

CBC

Heck, I'm not even suggesting that all Maple Leafs are drunk drivers:

Former Toronto Maple Leafs captain Rick Vaive has been charged with impaired driving in Vaughan.

Toronto Star

But I am surprised when Canada's media make a case of one ex-MP Conservative guy (allegedly guilty as he may be) when something much more serious (IMV) occurs beside.

And why are Senators allowed to double dip anyway? (I thought Senators were above the fray, like the Governor-General. Imagine a GG being investigated for overcharging... )

Edited September 18, 2009 by August1991

[jdobbin]

On this score, you are right, Dobbin.

I tend to think that Liberal PMs name friends to senior positions to collect money from private citizens so that the friends return the money to the Liberals. It's been done, and it's a racket.

And I tend to think some on the right like to crawl through the mud and grime because that is where they feel comfortable.

We saw this with you before when you made the case that Trudeau was an abusive husband and that this was part of his appeal in Quebec.

Are you the one who came up with the attack plan for the ADQ leadership race as well?

Are you that filled with hate filled bile?

Edited September 18, 2009 by jdobbin

[August1991]

We saw this with you before when you made the case that Trudeau was an abusive husband and that this was part of his appeal in Quebec.

Huh? Appeal in Quebec?

Read Margaret Trudeau's autobiography. And Richard Gwyn (not me) made the argument that Trudeau's tough guy (but sexy) image appealed to urban English Canada.

Are you the one who came up with the attack plan for the ADQ leadership race as well?

ADQ? WTF? Don't change the subject.

Are you that filled with hate filled bile?

That's the current Warren Kinsella meme! All Conservatives are angry! Stephen Harper is White Mr. Angry!

Once again, don't change the subject.

------

The fact is that a Catholic order chose to hire a federal Liberal Senator to defend itself from accusations inspired by... a federal Liberal government. And to add insult to injury, the Liberal Senator lawyer overcharged.

Edited September 18, 2009 by August1991

[jdobbin]

Huh? Appeal in Quebec?

Read Margaret Trudeau's autobiography. And Richard Gwyn (not me) made the argument that Trudeau's tough guy (but sexy) image appealed to urban English Canada.

And you stated definitively that he was guilty of domestic abuse and made the argument that was appealing.

ADQ? WTF? Don't change the subject.

Figured you might think that this type of a politics was fair game since that is what is practiced with some of your posts.

That's the current Warren Kinsella meme! All Conservatives are angry! Stephen Harper is White Mr. Angry!

Once again, don't change the subject.

The subject is you. You are changing the subject from a former Tory and making an excuse for it. Moreover, you are using it to tar all Liberals.

I am calling you out on it. You.

Edited September 18, 2009 by jdobbin

[August1991]

And I tend to think some on the right like to crawl through the mud and grime because that is where they feel comfortable.

I tend to think federal Liberals will crawl through the mud and grime if it means a limo and fame, and an entitlement to a chunky offshore account at the end of the day.

Once upon a time, under Trudeau, federal Liberals had principles. Now, they don't. Nowadays, federal Liberals will accept anything - mud, grime, utter humiliation, degradation - if it means that they can have power - limos, ugly voices, power ties, the centre of attention.

But what is truly sad is how some people (eg. this thread) abuse Liberal ambitions for their own ends. Let's call that playing Liberals at their own game.

Edited September 18, 2009 by August1991

[jdobbin]

I tend to think federal Liberals will crawl through the mud and grime if it means a limo and fame, and an entitlement to a chunky offshore account at the end of the day.

I tend to think you crawl through the mud and grime when you pull stuff like this.

Once upon a time, under Trudeau, federal Liberals had principles. Now, they don't. Nowadays, federal Liberals will accept anything - mud, grime, utter humiliation, degradation - if it means that they can have power - limos, ugly voices, power ties, the centre of attention.

But what is truly sad is how some people (eg. this thread) abuse Liberal ambitions for their own ends. Let's call that playing Liberals at their own game.

I say that you are called out on your gameplaying.

Why not come out from your anonymous pontificating so that we can see where this stuff really comes from. I expect that it would reveal a lot.

Edited September 18, 2009 by jdobbin

[Argus]

It is more than stupidity, it is criminal.

However, your posting of this as a connection to Liberals in general is dropping into the gutter. It says as much about you than anything else.

And your reason for starting the thread about Jaffar was noble?

[Argus]

And I tend to think some on the right like to crawl through the mud and grime because that is where they feel comfortable.

We saw this with you before when you made the case that Trudeau was an abusive husband and that this was part of his appeal in Quebec.

Are you the one who came up with the attack plan for the ADQ leadership race as well?

Are you that filled with hate filled bile?

One thing which you always succeed at is reminding me of the near blinding level of hypocrisy Liberal Party members seem to revel in.

There was never any question that when the news about Jaffar's arrest broke Jdobbin would be racing to the computer to breathlessly post the news and tsk, tks, tsk about it. Oh those tories! They're so awful!

But one thing I've noted about the Tories. When they do something stupid or criminal it usually doesn't affect anyone but them. Liberal stupidity and criminality usually hurts others.

Edited September 19, 2009 by Argus

[jdobbin]

One thing which you always succeed at is reminding me of the near blinding level of hypocrisy Liberal Party members seem to revel in.

One thing I find is the complete rush to judgment that we have seen by some on the right wing. We saw it on the Bryant case where we were told this is further evidence of Liberal this and that and how it would play in the election. It was repugnant.

I certainly didn't make the case that Jaffer was indicative of all Tories and wouldn't but boy or boy, every Liberal down to the last member is a crook, a thief and a murderer when it comes to the Liberals for some.

There was never any question that when the news about Jaggar's arrest broke Jdobbin would be racing to the computer to breathlessly post the news and tsk, tks, tsk about it. Oh those tories! They're so awful!

I figured you'd be racing to the computer to say, "oh yes, all Liberals are corrupt!" when you saw this thread.

But one thing I've noted about the Tories. When they do something stupid or criminal it usually doesn't affect anyone but them. Liberal stupidity and criminality usually hurts others.

Ah, there it is. The large tar brush out as I suspected.

[jdobbin]

And your reason for starting the thread about Jaffar was noble?

I was saddened by what I heard of Jaffer and said so. I don't think it reflects on all Tories.

I always figured he would be back in politics at some point.

[Molly]

........ to 2004....

Were they defending the residential schools class action, for which this order was the primary target?

Facing down Tony Merchant, who billed $25,000,000?

[August1991]

........ to 2004....

Were they defending the residential schools class action, for which this order was the primary target?

Facing down Tony Merchant, who billed $25,000,000?

I think you are right, Molly. I must admit that I didn't follow this case carefully but it looks appalling.

I found this:

Merchant's firm, Merchant Law Group, which claims to represent about 10,000 former students, could receive $40 million as its share of Ottawa's $2-billion proposed deal.

That has unsettled some people. Others say he was a big part of the deal.

CBC

Note that Tony Merchant's wife is also a Liberal Senator. Talk about dividing up the "spiles". It's good work when you can get it.